campaign finance

Question 1

why are elections so expensive

Answer 1

• country is vast
• elections aren’t jus to elect one elective chamber
• campaign lasts 9 weeks
• candidates must contests in primaries
• no ‘free time’ on TV

Question 2

reasons for campaign finance

Answer 2

• soft money spent on party building or get out the vote activities
• growth in issue advocacy campaigning eg abortion
• weakening of parties as matching funds go directly to candidates organisations rather than to the parties
• failure of federal election commission to have much in the way of enforcement powers against those who break the new rules

Question 3

changes brought about by 2002 reforms

Answer 3

• national party committees banned from raising or spending soft money
• labour unions and corporate groups forbidden from directly funding issue adverts
• banning of union or corporate money to fund adverts that mention a federal candidate within 60 days of a general election on 30 days of a primary
• prohibition of fundraising on private property
• increased individual limits on contributions to individual candidates or candidate committees to $2300 to be further increased for inflation each odd numbered year
• banning of contributions from foreign nationals
• stand by your ad provision - meaning campaign ads must include ‘I’m…..and I approve this message’

Question 4

citizens united vs FEC

Answer 4

super PACs appeared and played significant role in 2012 pres election

Question 5

TV pres debates

Answer 5

• been used in every election year since 1976
• usually 3 and 1 vice pres debate all lasting 1.5 hours
• generally include dem and rep candidate
• most in format of joint press conference with a panel of journalists or moderator asking questions
• from 1992 ‘town hall’ style also used with a more informal style

Question 6

debates rules of thumb

Answer 6

*style is more important than substance
*avoid serious gaffes
debates more difficult for incumbents as have record to defend and can have old quotes thrown back at them

Question 7

pres debates ARE important because

Answer 7

• only time candidate gets to address USA unfiltered for 90 mins at a time
• often very large audience viewing debates
• sound bites are played over and over
• especially important for challengers
• can change the direction of a campaign

Question 8

pres debates ARENT important because

Answer 8

• rarely have any lasting impact on the outcome of the election
• style more important than substance
• usually confirm the position of the front runner in the race
• viewing figures usually decline for later debates
• often not truly debates, merely candidates giving their pre rehearsed answers

Question 9

tv ads

Answer 9

to what extent do they change voters minds and voting intentions